Fidelis Ilechukwu, the head coach of Rangers International, has voiced his concerns about the team's inefficiency in converting scoring opportunities during the 2024/2025 CAF Champions League. Despite Rangers' progression to the second preliminary round, the coach is troubled by his team's performance in the ongoing continental competition.
Rangers, the reigning champions of the Nigerian league, advanced to the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League following a narrow 2-1 aggregate victory over U.S. de Zilimadjou, the champions from Comoros Islands. In the first leg of the preliminary round, played at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on August 23, 2024, the Nigerian side was held to a 1-1 draw by their Comorian opponents.
In a post-match interview, Ilechukwu expressed his dissatisfaction with the team's performance, despite their successful progression. He remarked, “We are pleased to have qualified for the next round of the competition, though I believe we did not perform to the best of our abilities against the Comoros champions. This highlights the unpredictable nature of football.”
Ilechukwu highlighted his primary concern: the team's poor goal conversion rate. He acknowledged the need to address this issue before the next transfer window, hoping that improvements in team cohesion and performance will emerge with the start of the new league season. He stated, “I am certainly worried about our rate of converting chances, but I am optimistic that we can overcome this challenge before the next registration window. I believe that the start of the new league season will contribute significantly to improving our cohesive play.”
Despite the disappointing draw, Rangers International has moved forward to the next stage of the competition. They will face either St. Louis F.C. from Seychelles or Sagrada Esperança F.C. from Angola. The Angolan side currently holds a 1-0 advantage from their first leg match played in Seychelles.
As Rangers prepare for their upcoming fixtures, Ilechukwu's focus will be on addressing the team's scoring inefficiencies to enhance their performance in the next round of the CAF Champions League.
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